Milwaukee Pride invests in LGBTQ youth

UWM Pride Discovery Camp helps LGBTQ students reach their full potential through skill-building, networking and community engagement.

This year, Milwaukee Pride financially supported this critical youth empowerment program with scholarship funding. These funds sponsored a student’s participation, regardless of their ability to pay.

“We strongly believe in developing the next generation of local LGBTQ leadership,” said Eric Heinritz, Milwaukee Pride’s executive director. “We are honored to create this experience for students to connect, grow, thrive and excel, with the support they need to become their best self.”

“This summer, fifteen LGBTQ students and three LGBTQ return camper interns engaged in a week of self-discovery and empowerment at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,” said Jen Murray, director of the UWM LGBT Resource Center. “Throughout the week, the student received support from throughout Milwaukee’s LGBTQ communities.”

“A career panel of area out-professionals shared the successes and challenges they’ve encountered, a group of lawyers donated their time to educate the students on their rights as LGBTQ students, and an interfaith panel discussed how LGBTQ identity does not preclude a spiritual identity Additionally, students learned about intersectional identities, LGBT+ history, drag/ball culture, storytelling, and self-care. Most importantly, the students were able to spend a week with their peers in an affirming environment in which they were able to express themselves freely.”

“The life-changing camp experience was made possible through generous support from the Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health and Milwaukee Pride, Inc.”

Milwaukee Pride, Inc. is proud to call the UWM LGBT Resource Center one of our Proud Partners. The UWM LGBT Resource Center was founded in 2002 to promote the welfare of LGBT+ students, faculty, and staff on campus. The Center strives to create an inclusive campus environment free of discrimination in all forms.